Light Rail Costs and Funding

Cost to Extend Light Rail to Virginia Beach

How much would it cost to extend light rail into Virginia Beach?

It depends on the route. On Sept. 17, 2013, Hampton Roads Transit presented to the City Council cost and ridership estimates for extending The Ride light rail into Virginia Beach.

The study includes two cost estimates – one for each option. Costs are in 2018 dollars:• Newtown Road to Rosemont Road -- $440 million• Newtown Road to the Oceanfront via the Norfolk Southern right of way -- $1.0 billion

There is a third alternative – Newtown Road to the Oceanfront via Hilltop/Laskin Road. The estimated cost of this option will be available in November 2013.

One word of caution: The cost estimates WILL change, depending on many factors that have not yet been decided. As of September 2013, only 3% to 7% of the design is complete.

Construction costs would be divided roughly in this proportion:• Federal government – 50%• State government – 25%• City government – 25%

That could vary, depending on exactly how the line is designed and built.

Phased Construction

The possibility of building the light rail in phases - for instance, building it from Newtown Road to Rosemont Road and then from Rosemont Road to the oceanfront - is also being studied.

Land Acquisition​

Virginia Beach purchased the former Norfolk Southern right-of-way in 2010. It runs 10.6 miles from Newtown Road to Birdneck Road. The city paid $15 million, the state contributed $20 million and HRT kicked in $5 million. The train tracks are no longer in use.

East of Birdneck Road, the alignment would likely run in existing city owned right-of-way to the Oceanfront.

A study is currently under way to see if the route can be adjusted to include the Hilltop shopping area. This may result in additional land acquisition, but it is possible this change could mostly be accommodated in the existing Laskin Road right-of-way.